With a Nest thermostat, you can enjoy a lot of benefits made possible by the utilization of smart thermostat technology. Some of the more common questions that we hear regarding the use of Nest thermostats is whether or not they are compatible with zoned heating and cooling systems, and whether one Nest thermostat can replace the multiple thermostats that zone controlled systems typically use. We’ve got the answers for you in the following post, so read on and remember to schedule your thermostat services in Dover, MA with a member of our staff. We’ll make sure that you’re able to regulate temperatures effectively and reliably.

The short answer to the questions posed above is: yes. Nest thermostats can certainly be used in conjunction with zoned HVAC systems. However, you are indeed going to require multiple Nest thermostats throughout the house. While you can choose to use one Nest thermostat in a main area of your home, and to continue using more basic thermostats in other zones, this is not really advisable if you are looking to truly benefit from the use of smart technology in your home. By using multiple Nest thermostats, those devices can communicate with and benefit one another in ways that pairing a single Nest thermostat with other devices simply won’t allow for.

A key feature of the Nest thermostat is its Auto-Away coordination, which helps homeowners to save energy when the house is empty. When you use multiple Nest thermostats in your home, you won’t have to worry about certain zones going into an Auto-Away mode just because those particular zones are empty, while others are still occupied. The Nest thermostats can communicate with one another, so that Auto-Away settings won’t go into effect until the whole house is empty. When you come home at night, the Nest thermostat in your living room will let your Nest thermostat in the bedroom know, so you won’t have to go upstairs to adjust it before bed.

We see plenty of tips and tricks for residential electric company owners that are meant to help save them money, but what about business owners? Businesses face the same issues as residential customers. When electric rates rise, businesses lose money from their bottom line. In order to keep the bottom line healthy or just to save a few dollars that could be put to use in other areas, it is important managers and employees learn a bit about energy savings. An electrician in Burbank, like those at The Electric Connection, has some tips that can help you lower the electric bill while lessening the demand on the power grid. It is a win-win situation.

*On Fridays, turn off power strips and unplug things like the coffee maker and other small appliances in the office. This will help reduce the phantom power that is drawn even when appliances, computers and other equipment are not in use.

*Install motion sensors in the copy room, bathrooms and supply rooms that are not always in use and do not always need to have lights on. The sensors detect movement and will automatically turn the lights on when somebody enters the room and shuts the light off when a person leaves the room.

*Switch your lighting to LED. This is a huge energy saver and you will see savings on your next Burbank electrical bill. Track lighting is common in offices. These fixtures are typically equipped to handle the energy-efficient LEDs. If you need to upgrade your existing lights, talk with your local electrician.

*Make sure to regularly maintain the fans on your computers. Keeping the computers dust free helps them run better and will ultimately lose less energy. This also applies to the coils on the office refrigerator and the furnace filters. Dust isn’t just unsightly—it costs you money!

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a lighting upgrade in your office, give The Electric Connection a call today.

Saving energy is a laudable goal. By using less electricity and other energy around your home, you reduce your contribution to environmental degradation and climate change. On the other hand, easy and reliable access to electricity is in large part responsible for the high standard of living that most Americans enjoy. Read on to learn more about the intersection between comfort and energy consumption, and how you can cut back while still participating in modern 21st century life.

Energy Consumption and GDP Go Hand-in-Hand

When it comes to residential households, cheap power allows us to run the electrical work that lends so much convenience and comfort to our day-to-day lives – refrigerators, air conditioners, lights, computers, televisions and much more. On a societal scale, access to fossil fuels and the energy potential stored within is what has made possible so many technological and logistical advances in the first place. However, as the years advance, the science is becoming ever more clear – excessive carbon emissions are causing the planet's climate to change, often in destructive and unpredictable ways.

Of course, no one wants to go back to the days of pushing a plow behind a donkey and churning butter by hand, either. The big question, and one that may become existential, is whether we can decouple our energy consumption from our standard of living. Historically, consumption and GDP have risen together in lock-step. Can the United States and other developed countries figure out how to break the chain?

Decouple Lifestyle from Consumption

A recent report by the Energy Collective tells us that “reductions in energy intensity is arguably our most important tool to achieve a sustainable energy future.” What does it mean? That we can get the same or more production out of less energy usage. In some ways, we've already made progress – between 2007 and 2013, energy consumption dropped 4.5 percent in the United States, while the Net Domestic Product continued to rise.

That's all well and good for the country, but what about your household? The same principles apply – for a more sustainable future, look for ways to get the same results with less energy use. That means switching to efficient appliances, like Energy Star certified equipment. It means replacing old incandescent light bulbs with modern LED models. And look for little changes that can make a big difference, like adjusting your thermostat a few notches up or down to reduce the load on your HVAC equipment.

Make a Difference in Your House

You can do your part to cut down on your energy use while still enjoying the amenities of modern life by making targeted efficiency investments and simple behavioral changes. If you need tips on how to reduce your energy bills without reverting to stone age-style living, or need any other electrical work, contact a reputable electrician today.

The Seattle Mariners may have just upped their game when they retrofitted their clubhouse with an LED lighting strategy focused on intensifying the moods, energy levels and performance of their players.

In an article published in Architectural SSL, Stan Walerczyk highlights five core areas of our life where lighting effects human physiology and performance:

Circadian Rhythms — a case study by Ephesus Lighting, when the University of Phoenix replaced their metal halide fixtures with LEDs, they experienced a 75% reduction in energy consumption, a statistic that probably took the sting out of the initial investment. The long-term benefits of LED lighting (less maintenance, a reduced carbon footprint) offer less in the form of immediate gratification, but trickle their gifts throughout future generations.